News / Hate Crime
How do we tackle a rise in Islamophobia?
A rise in Islamophobic hate crime was described as “an attack on us all” amid discussions on how to tackle the issue and address underreporting.
Political rhetoric from some national and world leaders, the media and a culture of toxic masculinity within far right groups were identified as some of the contributing factors to the increase in incidents during an event at Greenbank Mosque.
Of all religiously-motivated hate crimes reported in Bristol in the last two years, 72 per cent were directed at Muslim women, according to police figures – and this does not paint the full picture because many victims don’t report.
is needed now More than ever
“We cannot just sit back and let it go, it’s unacceptable,” said Sue Mountstevens, police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset. She urged everyone to report hate crime and encourage friends or family who have been targeted to do so.
Focusing on the reasons behind a rise in hate crime, Sue said: “Our politicians have absolutely failed us because of the abuse and hostility with which they are treating each other. The increasing use of vile language by some politicians has led to the belief that we can get away with it.
“I believe that there is a direct link in the increase in hate crime that has been well and truly led by parliament.”
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The event on Monday was held during Hate Crime Awareness Week and saw the police and PCC join forces with grassroots organisations and community members in a bid to tackle challenges faced and build trust to empower victims to report.
Aaliyah Hussain (far right) says the stereotypes of Muslim women create a culture in which they are seen as easy targets
Aaliyah Hussain is the founder of WeRise, an organisation dedicated to the empowerment of Muslim women and tackling racism, injustice, sexism and extremism.
Analysing why Muslim women are disproportionately targeted, she said: “There are a number of issues: one is that Muslim women are often presented as the ideal target for someone to wants to harm somebody. There’s a lot of stereotypes around Muslim women being passive and victims.
“There’s also a culture of toxic masculinity within far right groups, as well as racism.”
Alex Raikes, strategic director of anti-hate crime charity SARI, added: “It’s a worldwide issue. We have to look at some of our media and how they increase hostility, also the rhetoric coming out of some of our world leaders’ mouths.”
Tell MAMA, a national organisation that records incidents of Islamophobic hate crime and support victims, reports that 66 per cent of perpetrators were white men and 58 per cent of victims were visibly Muslin women, according to 2018 figures.
Iman Atta, the director of Tell MAMA, spoke about the long-term impact of hate crime on victims, many of whom will experience it on more than one occasion.
“When someone is attacked, it’s an attack on all of us,” she said.
Moestak Hussein, a community coordinator for Bristol City Council, pointed out that segregation remains a big issue in Bristol.
“There’s that fear of institutions and feeling isolated which acts as a barrier to reporting Islamophobia, so it’s important to empower people within the communities to do some of that work around reporting themselves,” she said, adding: “I can see how normalising comes into it but there’s nothing normal about it.”
Aaliyah added that while the onus is often placed on women to integrate more, hate crime – or even the fear of hate crime – effectively serves to keep people in their homes and communities for fear of being targeted.
“Even if people have not experienced it themselves, hearing stories from friends who have is enough to make them feel uncomfortable about going into spaces where they will be a visible minority,” she said, arguing that a better understanding of barriers is necessary.
Iman Atta (centre) says when someone is attacked, it’s an attack on all of us
Superintendent Andy Bennett, the force lead for hate crime, outlined some of the initiatives being put in place to foster better understanding and encourage people to have enough faith in police to report.
These include the recruitment of community outreach workers and more training around cultural differences.
“I want to shape policing so it better serves all communities in Bristol,” he said.
Read more: ‘Muslim women hold the key to their own empowerment’
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